NOAA is putting commercial fishing ahead of conservation
Critics argue that the NOAA's new operational roadmap prioritizes commercial fishing interests over marine conservation and scientific standards. The policy shift aligns with a 2025 executive order aimed at increasing seafood industry competitiveness.
Why it matters
The policy change represents a significant shift in environmental regulation, potentially impacting endangered species and the long-term health of marine ecosystems.
Go fish NOAA is putting commercial fishing ahead of conservation Critics say the new agenda could weaken science-based rules and marine protections.
10 Credit: Reinhard Dirscherl Credit: Reinhard Dirscherl Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav In July , the Trump administration relegated endangered leatherback turtles, sea lions, and whales to mere collateral damage in its race to profit from the oceans. Now, fisheries science is in the government’s crosshairs.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced new agency priorities last week that they say are a commitment to “cutting bureaucracy, modernizing our science, and putting our fishing communities first.” But experts say the agency’s actions will erode fish stocks, threaten endangered species, and surrender marine habitats to destructive trawlers.
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